Usual Suspects: 006 Culex mosquito

Sixth infographic of the serie "Usual suspects: 6 tiny vectors that represent a huge treat to our health".

Culex species is one of the three major types of mosquito inhabiting the planet. Culex pipiens is the most widespread mosquito in Europe.

In various parts of the world, Culex species have been responsible for spreading encephalitis, including the Saint Louis and Japanese variants (the latter causes more than 50,000 cases and 10,000 deaths each year). These mosquitos are also responsible for the spread of West Nile virus, which has affected more than 40,000 people in the United States since it first reached the country in 1999. The common house mosquito also spreads filarial worms—including Dirofilaria immitis, which affects dogs—and several Plasmodium species that cause avian malaria.